Candidates in crime-hit North Rift regions moved to secure centres
Standard Eight and Grade Six examinations kicked off yesterday without a hitch in many parts of the North Rift, with some candidates being forced to write their papers in different schools due to runaway banditry.
For the better part of this year, Kerio Valley and parts of Baringo North and Baringo South sub-counties have experienced cases of banditry, which have claimed 140 lives, according to local leaders.
This has forced many learners and their parents to flee the area.
A spot check by ‘People Daily’ revealed that the exercise kicked off without major hitches in the region, with Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan overseeing the opening of the main examination container in Eldoret town.
“We have not witnessed ugly incidents so far and we call on exam officials to exercise the highest degree of professionalism,” said Jwan.
Not a hitch
In Baringo, County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa — who witnessed the distribution of examination materials to 18,342 candidates — expressed confidence that the exercise would go on without any hitch.
“All candidates in the banditry-prone areas of Baringo North and Baringo South sub-counties will be provided with enough security throughout the examination period,” said the administrator.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohamed said candidates in banditry zones will be provided with boarding facilities and meals during the period.
“The government has set up temporary accommodation facilities for candidates in areas affected by insecurity,” said Mohammed.
He noted that the tests began smoothly across 14 counties and 87 sub-counties of the Rift Valley.
The government has since rolled out a massive exercise to seize illegal firearms from civilians in violence-hit Rift Valley regions.
